https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/12/feed Global economy news, including budgets, stock markets and analysis. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Iris Deng Iris Deng China has updated its export rules on drones and industrial equipment, tightening restrictions on some parts and capabilities while easing requirements for less sensitive models. The changes could simplify overseas sales of consumer drones but increase compliance costs and delivery times for industrial models, analysts said. Announced on Monday by the Ministry of Commerce and other authorities, the changes added critical drone components, including high-performance brushless motors, and certain... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371415/china-updates-drone-export-rules-less-red-tape-some-tougher-restrictions-others?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371415/china-updates-drone-export-rules-less-red-tape-some-tougher-restrictions-others?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:00:25 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Washington and Beijing should put aside their mutual distrust to address the risks posed by artificial intelligence, much as the United States and Soviet Union cooperated on nuclear arms control during the Cold War, a former US Treasury secretary has urged. Robert Rubin, who served as US Treasury secretary under former president Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1999, cited the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between Washington and Moscow decades ago as an example of two superpowers working... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371382/us-china-should-learn-cold-war-era-arms-control-tackle-ai-risks-ex-us-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371382/us-china-should-learn-cold-war-era-arms-control-tackle-ai-risks-ex-us-official?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen As Hong Kong hosts the Apec finance ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, this two-part series examines the summit’s significance and its implications for Beijing on the global stage. In part two, Frank Chen explores how the event could help Beijing pitch its philosophies and urge cooperation in digital infrastructure financing. China’s hosting of this year’s Apec meetings, including a finance ministers’ gathering in Hong Kong, will see a more confident Beijing seek to pitch its economic and financial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371287/hong-kongs-apec-meetings-give-beijing-venue-pitch-virtues-its-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371287/hong-kongs-apec-meetings-give-beijing-venue-pitch-virtues-its-system?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Robin Xing is chief China economist at Morgan Stanley. A famed economist and Peking University graduate, Xing has a PhD in economics from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and previously worked at Goldman Sachs and China International Capital Corp. In his second Open Questions interview, Xing dissects China’s K-shaped economic divergence and why he remains convinced that the “top half of the K” can offset challenges such as deflation and weak consumption. He also discusses Beijing’s real... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371109/robin-xing-how-chinas-two-speed-economy-can-solve-contrasting-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371109/robin-xing-how-chinas-two-speed-economy-can-solve-contrasting-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A Chinese construction company has reached an agreement to work on tunnel projects in the tiny Middle Eastern nation of Qatar, as China’s global infrastructure push continues to gain momentum after recent railway deals in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The state-owned China Railway Tunnel Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with a subsidiary of the Qatari conglomerate Aamal Co, according to a statement released by the Doha-based company on Tuesday. The two firms had forged a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371195/risky-business-chinese-firm-agrees-build-rail-tunnels-qatar-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371195/risky-business-chinese-firm-agrees-build-rail-tunnels-qatar-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu France and Germany have unveiled a joint position on Europe’s automotive package, with a tighter geographic definition of “Made in Europe” and a research and development requirement for cars to qualify for subsidies or public procurement, which industry insiders say would put further pressure on Chinese carmakers to invest in production within the bloc. The automotive sector’s “Made in Europe” classification would include only the 27 member states of the European Union, with an opt-in to include... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371261/germany-france-tighten-made-europe-stance-pressuring-chinas-auto-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371261/germany-france-tighten-made-europe-stance-pressuring-chinas-auto-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li When Grace Andrews, a US content creator, packed for her trip to China, she brought along a completely empty suitcase, dedicated solely to her shopping list. By the time she headed home, that extra luggage was bursting at the seams. In a video posted to social media earlier this month that received thousands of likes, Andrews unpacked a haul that spanned the spectrum of Chinese retail: delicate antique ceramics nestled next to trendy designer blind boxes, alongside a slew of clothing, shoes and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371258/china-haul-why-foreign-tourists-are-shopping-storm-after-beijing-policy-changes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371258/china-haul-why-foreign-tourists-are-shopping-storm-after-beijing-policy-changes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang China has further reduced its holdings of US Treasuries to an 18-year low in August, as it continued to diversify its foreign exchange reserves amid rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over Washington’s fiscal outlook. China’s holdings fell to US$590.7 billion in August, down US$27.3 billion from US$618 billion in July, data released by the US Treasury Department showed on Friday. That marked the lowest total recorded since August 2008, when its holdings tumbled to US$573.7 billion,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371237/china-cuts-us-treasury-holdings-18-year-low-august-american-debt-fears-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371237/china-cuts-us-treasury-holdings-18-year-low-august-american-debt-fears-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 06:00:17 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li While Washington’s efforts to block Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) were originally intended to protect its domestic automotive industry, they have sparked concerns the strategy is hurting America’s carmaking competitiveness. With a lack of a coherent industrial policy discouraging long-term investment, the protectionist approach was backfiring on Detroit’s EV transition, said David Zhang, a macroeconomics and policy analyst at Trivium China, who added that EVs could be a “perfect concession” in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371167/anti-china-protectionism-backfiring-american-carmakers-ev-plans-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371167/anti-china-protectionism-backfiring-american-carmakers-ev-plans-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:00:07 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng With the US set to lower tariffs on US$30 billion worth of shipments from China, Chinese exporters said this week they expected a new wave of orders from American buyers and planned to reactivate idle factory capacity. Many among the 32,000-plus Chinese exhibitors and 210,000 preregistered foreign buyers at the twice-yearly Canton Fair, China’s oldest and biggest trade exhibition, shared that upbeat outlook this week – though it was tempered by stiffer headwinds from the European market. Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371178/tariff-threats-ease-us-fashion-again-among-chinese-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371178/tariff-threats-ease-us-fashion-again-among-chinese-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China on Friday unveiled a draft plan to impose new export bans affecting 14 technologies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence to biotechnology and photovoltaic solar power. The notice – jointly issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology – proposes export bans for a string of AI-related technologies; certain cell and gene therapy technology platforms; and technology for producing certain kinds of solar cell modules. It also lists a further 26... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371149/china-mulls-new-tech-export-bans-covering-ai-biotech-and-solar-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371149/china-mulls-new-tech-export-bans-covering-ai-biotech-and-solar-power?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:31:39 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s central bank chief has said exchange-rate adjustments alone cannot resolve global economic imbalances, urging surplus and deficit economies to share responsibility for addressing them. He also pledged to promote yuan-denominated bonds as “eligible collateral widely recognised and accepted globally”. Speaking at the third G20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting in Bangkok on Thursday, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, called for a “more comprehensive... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371116/china-says-only-joint-action-not-exchange-rates-alone-can-address-global-imbalances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371116/china-says-only-joint-action-not-exchange-rates-alone-can-address-global-imbalances?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:13:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Indonesian officials, looking to alleviate poverty in their country and eyeing the rise of rural economies in China, are turning to Beijing for help that may include stoking the exports of a potentially lucrative durian crop. Indonesian Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara began a seven-day visit to China on Monday, with Indonesia’s state-owned Antara news agency saying consultations with Beijing’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, companies and academic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371091/indonesian-durian-farmers-stand-benefit-ministers-visit-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Mia Nurmamat Sylvia Ma,Mia Nurmamat Talk of global decoupling from China has persisted for years, as has speculation that emerging economies such as India and Vietnam could soon replace it as the “world’s factory”. But for Indian hardware engineer Neeraj Arora, the growth of India’s electronics manufacturing industry has not eliminated the need to source components from China. Instead, it has changed the nature of those imports. A decade ago, Arora imported finished phone chargers from the world’s second-largest economy. Today,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371027/china-decoupling-paradox-why-world-still-needs-its-manufacturing-machine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371027/china-decoupling-paradox-why-world-still-needs-its-manufacturing-machine?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Canada and Singapore are among the countries that remain committed to strengthening trade ties with China, despite growing global fragmentation and a push by governments towards greater self-sufficiency, officials from both countries said on Wednesday at an economic forum in New Delhi. Canada’s minister of international trade Maninder Sidhu said China was the country’s second-largest trading partner and highlighted opportunities for cooperation in areas where the two economies had complementary... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370999/canada-singapore-reaffirm-china-trade-ties-amid-global-push-self-sufficiency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370999/canada-singapore-reaffirm-china-trade-ties-amid-global-push-self-sufficiency?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:30:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Shenzhen residents have been encouraged to work from home and reduce their driving during the coming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, as the local government unveiled logistics arrangements for one of the year’s biggest events. The measures included “flexible work arrangements” and “green travel policies”, as the city seeks to balance “high-standard support for foreign affairs activities” and “smooth operation of the economy and society”, Chan Yaodong, deputy secretary general of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3371029/shenzhen-offers-discount-fares-other-perks-keep-residents-roads-during-apec-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3371029/shenzhen-offers-discount-fares-other-perks-keep-residents-roads-during-apec-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro For a truly staggering figure, look no further than an estimate from Columbia Business School Professor Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh of the cumulative investment in artificial intelligence-related infrastructure by 2032. In a paper last month, Van Nieuwerburgh said the AI buildout could reach US$10.3 trillion, the equivalent of 3.6 per cent of annual US economic output for the next seven years. The average annual capital expenditure dwarfs previous infrastructure booms, including railways, highways... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370945/why-ai-investment-boom-could-spark-next-financial-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370945/why-ai-investment-boom-could-spark-next-financial-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As the US Treasury imposed historic fines on Bank of America over compliance failures involving Chinese money-laundering networks, analysts see the action as a signal that could prompt Western banks to tighten scrutiny of Chinese clients and cross-border transactions. The penalties, announced on Tuesday and totalling more than US$1.21 billion, included what the US Treasury described as its third-largest penalty on record and the largest in the history of the Office of the Comptroller of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370870/what-does-historic-bank-america-fine-mean-us-china-capital-streams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370870/what-does-historic-bank-america-fine-mean-us-china-capital-streams?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s chief civilian aircraft builder will command 5 per cent of the world’s fleet allocation by 2045 as global demand for narrowbody jets and the domestic order book look strong, an aviation analytics firm has forecast. Airbus would have 47 per cent of the passenger fleet allocation and Boeing 39 per cent, both leading state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), analytics firm Cirium forecast on Tuesday. It said Embraer would take 3 per cent and ATR 2 per cent. Comac has a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370841/c919-set-lead-way-chinese-aircraft-forecast-secure-5-world-market-20-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370841/c919-set-lead-way-chinese-aircraft-forecast-secure-5-world-market-20-years?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:52:28 +0000 Tim Yuen Lingk Tim Yuen Lingk Rising sovereign debt and borrowing costs have prompted a fresh warning from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about risks to the fiscal health of member countries, with 24-year highs in US Treasury yields expected to become one of the focal topics for central bankers and finance ministers gathering in Bangkok this week. The average yield on 10-year government bonds across the Group of Seven economies increased by more than 1 percentage point between February and September this year,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3370722/imf-warns-higher-borrowing-costs-are-straining-public-finances-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3370722/imf-warns-higher-borrowing-costs-are-straining-public-finances-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu No Chinese carmakers were represented at a dinner on Sunday attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and around 60 European automotive industry players, but they were hard to miss when he visited the Paris Motor Show the next day. Allianz Trade said in a report that Chinese marques comprised half the exhibitors at this year’s show, even as they dealt with the fallout from a China-EU agreement to curb the growth of China’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid automotive exports to the bloc. Against the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370746/import-curbs-loom-chinese-carmakers-make-stand-paris-motor-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370746/import-curbs-loom-chinese-carmakers-make-stand-paris-motor-show?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Mainland China fell three places this year on a global ranking for trade sustainability, tracking what the compilers of the index described as declines in economic and environmental metrics. The Hinrich-IMD Sustainable Trade Index, which was released on Tuesday, ranked the mainland 19th out of 30 major economies. The United Kingdom ranked first, Singapore second, New Zealand third and Hong Kong fourth. The 30 economies covered by the annual index are evaluated on their ability to grow... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370599/environmental-concerns-see-china-fall-3-places-global-trade-sustainability-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370599/environmental-concerns-see-china-fall-3-places-global-trade-sustainability-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang Ivanka Trump’s appearance in a blue embroidered couture outfit during the welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington last month has drawn attention to its designer and the growing international profile of Chinese bespoke fashion. The outfit was designed by Guo Pei, one of China’s best-known couturiers, who also created the spectacular yellow embroidered cape with a long train and fur trim worn by pop star Rihanna at the 2015 Met Gala. Guo told the South China Morning... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370571/ivanka-trumps-guo-pei-dress-xi-visit-sparks-interest-chinese-haute-couture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370571/ivanka-trumps-guo-pei-dress-xi-visit-sparks-interest-chinese-haute-couture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu Weeks of high-wire negotiations between China and the EU culminated in a surprise trade deal that will, among other measures, impose strict quotas on Chinese hybrid car exports to the bloc and slash Chinese tariffs on a variety of European goods. The deal, unveiled on Friday, takes some of the heat out of searing bilateral trade tensions and temporarily averts the prospect of a bruising trade war – a cooldown augmented by Beijing’s subsequent reduction of value-added tax (VAT) export rebates on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370623/china-eu-take-breath-after-surprise-deal-brings-temporary-halt-trade-tussle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370623/china-eu-take-breath-after-surprise-deal-brings-temporary-halt-trade-tussle?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 11:56:34 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma Global diesel prices remain near record highs as Gulf producers struggle to restore refined-fuel exports, despite a recovery in crude shipments and pledges by more countries to release reserves. Net diesel exports from Gulf countries averaged 390,000 barrels per day in August, just over a quarter of their levels before the US-Israel war on Iran, according to the latest available data by the International Energy Agency (IEA) published in September. One obstacle to recovery is that Persian Gulf... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370606/global-diesel-shortage-why-gulf-refined-fuel-exports-lag-crude-oil-shipments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370606/global-diesel-shortage-why-gulf-refined-fuel-exports-lag-crude-oil-shipments?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Weeks of high-wire negotiations between China and the EU culminated in a surprise trade deal that will, among other measures, impose strict quotas on Chinese hybrid car exports to the bloc and slash Chinese tariffs on a variety of European goods. The deal, unveiled on Friday, takes some of the heat out of searing bilateral trade tensions and temporarily averts the prospect of a bruising trade war. Beijing agreed not to retaliate against Brussels’ move to curb imports of Chinese hybrid cars,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370613/how-china-and-eu-pressed-pause-trade-war-and-what-it-took-get-there?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370613/how-china-and-eu-pressed-pause-trade-war-and-what-it-took-get-there?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:33:47 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Goldman Sachs president John Waldron has called on China to loosen foreign exchange rules, ease cross-border data restrictions and improve regulatory transparency as the country’s policymakers seek to strengthen Shanghai’s role as an international financial centre. Waldron, also the investment bank’s chief operating officer and widely seen as a front runner to succeed its current CEO David Solomon, expressed confidence in the city’s potential at an annual meeting of business leaders advising the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370551/goldman-sachs-president-urges-market-reforms-boost-shanghais-financial-hub-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370551/goldman-sachs-president-urges-market-reforms-boost-shanghais-financial-hub-role?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:07:33 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A Thai government proposal to charge export duties on durians, a major cash crop, could raise prices for the fruit in China – its primary market – along with the quality, analysts said. Thailand’s draft bill to establish a fund for research and “sustainable” development of the durian sector would include the collection of fees, the government’s public relations department said last month. Southeast Asian media outlets and agricultural publications have tipped the export duty to be as high as 2... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370355/could-thai-durian-export-duty-mean-higher-prices-higher-quality-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370355/could-thai-durian-export-duty-mean-higher-prices-higher-quality-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese investors could face significant disruption if Indonesia imposes a moratorium on new nickel smelters to curb global overproduction and protect local industries across its vast minerals sector, analysts said. Indonesia was weighing a halt to the construction of smelters that produce semi-finished nickel products amid a global supply glut that had driven down commodity prices, state news agency Antara reported, citing energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia. Semi-finished... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370344/chinese-nickel-investors-brace-headwinds-indonesia-weighs-smelter-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370344/chinese-nickel-investors-brace-headwinds-indonesia-weighs-smelter-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Dewey Sim,Xiaofei Xu Finbarr Bermingham,Dewey Sim,Xiaofei Xu The European Union and China have “reached an understanding” that will cut Chinese hybrid car shipments to the bloc by “more than a half”, in a temporary salve to trade tensions that have threatened to boil over into a full-blown trade war. Speaking after marathon trade talks in Beijing, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said the deal would see China slash its hybrid car exports “by several million cars” over a four-year period. “This is the first time that China has accepted to moderate its exports... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370385/china-and-eu-reach-understanding-hybrid-vehicles-after-crunch-trade-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370385/china-and-eu-reach-understanding-hybrid-vehicles-after-crunch-trade-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:59:22 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China’s funding of global development institutions has grown more than tenfold since 2010, according to a new report that also says the pace of growth has been slowing recently as financing becomes more selective. China’s annual contributions to multilateral development entities rose from just under US$260 million in 2010 to over US$3 billion in 2024, according to a report published by the Washington-based Centre for Global Development think tank on Thursday. “China appears to be more involved... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370321/chinas-funding-global-development-bodies-grows-over-tenfold-now-more-selective?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370321/chinas-funding-global-development-bodies-grows-over-tenfold-now-more-selective?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s central bank published a position paper on the yuan exchange rate on Thursday, arguing that China has no need to gain a competitive edge through devaluing its currency and has never resorted to deliberate devaluation. The report was published on the same day that China and the European Union kicked off a fresh round of trade talks, with growing European calls for a stronger yuan to help address the bloc’s widening trade deficit with China. “Global economic imbalances are deeply... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370215/chinas-central-bank-slams-currency-manipulation-claims-eu-trade-talks-begin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370215/chinas-central-bank-slams-currency-manipulation-claims-eu-trade-talks-begin?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:57:55 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro When the governor of the Bank of France feels it is necessary to point out that “France is not Greece during the euro zone crisis”, it is clear there is a confidence problem at the heart of Europe’s monetary union. While there are stark differences between the current threats facing the single currency area and those that almost tore apart the bloc in 2012, bond investors can smell blood. Worryingly, France – the euro-zone’s second-largest economy, which was previously treated by investors as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370128/how-japanese-bond-yields-chinese-competition-are-stoking-euro-zone-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370128/how-japanese-bond-yields-chinese-competition-are-stoking-euro-zone-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu As China and the European Union began a fresh round of trade talks in Beijing on Thursday, observers on both sides appeared to agree on one thing: a big breakthrough was unlikely. Chinese firms based in Europe said they hoped the talks could achieve some “limited progress” to help stabilise the trade relationship, while European analysts remained cautious about the potential outcome. “They’re bound to get some results,” said a Chinese source with knowledge of the talks, adding that EU Trade... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370119/china-and-eu-begin-crunch-trade-talks-optimism-short-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370119/china-and-eu-begin-crunch-trade-talks-optimism-short-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:28 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li While China’s export engine still has room to grow, many of its trading partners may be approaching the limit of how much more they can absorb, which could place a ceiling on further growth over the coming years, according to a Goldman Sachs report. “At least over the next few years, there is still room for Chinese exports to maintain their strong momentum,” analysts said in the report led by the American investment bank’s chief China economist Hui Shan on Wednesday. “Over the longer term,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370078/why-chinas-export-engine-may-hit-ceiling-trading-partners-face-limits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370078/why-chinas-export-engine-may-hit-ceiling-trading-partners-face-limits?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese contractors will build Latin America’s longest cable-stayed bridge, a trans-bay span in Brazil, as their latest stamp on new infrastructure overseas. A consortium of Chinese companies is set to construct much of the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge, which is due to become the region’s biggest cross-sea project supported by cables once completed in 2031, Chinese and Brazilian media said. They would contribute to a 46.8km (29-mile) project including 12.4km crossing the Bay of All Saints along the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369850/chinese-consortium-build-latin-americas-longest-cable-stayed-bridge-brazil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369850/chinese-consortium-build-latin-americas-longest-cable-stayed-bridge-brazil?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Despite the recent surge in French borrowing costs that pushed the country’s 10-year bond yield spread with Germany to a level unseen since the euro zone crisis, analysts are urging calm, saying France is not facing a debt crisis but cautioning that future uncertainties remain. “The short answer is no, this is not a debt crisis,” said Stephane Colliac, senior economist at BNP Paribas. France’s effective interest rate is lower than the rising market yields, at slightly above 2 per cent, around... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370020/despite-rising-yields-and-political-gridlock-france-not-facing-debt-crisis-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3370020/despite-rising-yields-and-political-gridlock-france-not-facing-debt-crisis-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu In the industrial heartland of Normandy, more than 100km (62 miles) away from Paris, lies the small town of Cleon. Home to fewer than 5,000 residents and a Renault factory, the town and its environs are a near-perfect reflection of the current state of France’s rust belt, where economic activity and jobs are dwindling – the factory’s workforce has shrunk from almost 5,000 to 3,124 in 10 years. Yet the planned arrival of an assembly line from Chinese firm Shanghai E-Drive next year, in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369753/renaults-plan-chinese-ev-motor-assembly-small-french-town-sparks-job-loss-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369753/renaults-plan-chinese-ev-motor-assembly-small-french-town-sparks-job-loss-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:05:28 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump talked tariffs, agricultural quotas and critical minerals at last month’s closely watched summit in Washington, an “elephant in the room” loomed over the discussion: China’s efforts to gradually diversify away from US dollar assets. Beijing has gradually been cutting its holdings of US Treasuries while pushing to expand the yuan’s global use and developing alternative financial architecture. While these issues may not have featured in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369918/after-cordial-xi-trump-summit-could-chinas-us-dollar-pivot-cause-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369918/after-cordial-xi-trump-summit-could-chinas-us-dollar-pivot-cause-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li For Toronto-based product designer Alex Vong, buying his first 3D printer was not about experimenting with a niche technology – it was about finding a reliable tool for his creative business. After watching several YouTube reviews, he eventually chose a machine made by Shenzhen-based Bambu Lab. “A 3D printer is something I’d rather buy once, and buy the best,” he said. “I’m not buying multiples unless I have the space for it.” Vong has been using the 3D printer to produce the shell of an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369914/chinese-brands-drive-global-consumer-3d-printer-boom-ease-use-lower-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369914/chinese-brands-drive-global-consumer-3d-printer-boom-ease-use-lower-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Germany and France, the European Union’s two largest economies, jointly called for tougher EU trade defences, as European and Chinese negotiators prepare for crunch talks this week under the shadow of a potential trade war. “The open and rules-based trade system is massively affected by weaponisation of trade, systemic market-distorting practices, and global macroeconomic imbalances,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron said in an open letter. “We need urgent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369919/germany-joins-france-call-china-trade-defences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369919/germany-joins-france-call-china-trade-defences?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:19:20 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China is accelerating ultra-deep oil and gas development to expand domestic supply amid global energy uncertainties, with advances in exploration and extraction technologies unlocking harder-to-recover resources. One key frontier is the resource-rich western region of Xinjiang, where PetroChina’s Hade-Fuman oilfield has produced more than 26 million tonnes of oil equivalent from reservoirs more than 6,000 metres underground, according to state broadcaster CCTV on Monday. Wells deeper than 6,000... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369859/china-taps-ultra-deep-oil-reserves-6000-metres-deep-global-energy-turmoil-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369859/china-taps-ultra-deep-oil-reserves-6000-metres-deep-global-energy-turmoil-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang As China seeks to build on its “engineer dividend” – the advantage created by a vast pool of engineers built up over decades – it is directing more talent towards artificial intelligence and other hi-tech fields central to its competition with the US. The push comes as fresh graduates face mounting pressure to find jobs, underscoring the challenge of aligning China’s expanding higher education system with the needs of its changing economy. But Beijing has a narrow window to act, an education... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369754/how-china-planning-build-its-engineer-dividend-tech-war-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369754/how-china-planning-build-its-engineer-dividend-tech-war-us?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Neighbouring China and Vietnam, two manufacturing giants, are building out railways, adding flights and boosting cargo links to leverage their geographic proximity for another boost in trade and tourism that will help both weather pressure from the US. The two countries set aside political disputes last year to step up economic ties, and analysts said they were now improving both the quality and quantity of transport links. “Overall, I see the China-Vietnam connectivity story moving from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369606/us-bears-down-export-powerhouses-china-and-vietnam-establish-closer-transport-links?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369606/us-bears-down-export-powerhouses-china-and-vietnam-establish-closer-transport-links?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:27 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A range of public and private-sector Chinese buyers have acquired a total of 44 small-model Bell helicopters, often for sightseeing and corporate travel. This makes China the vendor’s second biggest market in the Asia-Pacific, with growing demand for more despite safety concerns surrounding rotary-wing aircraft, an aviation services firm said. China lagged behind only South Korea in the total number of five-seat Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters, according to a statement by the Hong Kong-based... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369016/chinas-police-sightseeing-operators-snap-bell-helicopters-despite-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369016/chinas-police-sightseeing-operators-snap-bell-helicopters-despite-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Most trade ministers from the world’s largest economies disagreed with calls to curb excess industrial capacity at a Group of 20 (G20) trade meeting that ended on Thursday, according to China’s commerce ministry, a view that contrasts with a US statement that a “handful” of countries objected. “The issues related to excess industrial capacity and forced labour have been highly controversial,” a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday about the two-day G20 Trade... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369703/most-g20-trade-ministers-reject-us-call-curbing-excess-capacity-china-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369703/most-g20-trade-ministers-reject-us-call-curbing-excess-capacity-china-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 10:38:50 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat At a two-day trade exhibition in Hong Kong earlier this week, Vera Nikitina, a representative of Russian confectionery producer Belyov Pastila Manufacture, was looking for new buyers – while also trying to reassure them that the company’s products were genuinely made in Russia. The company made its first attempt to enter China in 2019, before beginning regular shipments and establishing a local office in 2022-23. Its sales grew in 2024 amid booming Chinese demand for Russian consumer goods. That... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368816/russian-exporters-fight-win-back-chinese-buyers-amid-fallout-over-fake-goods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368816/russian-exporters-fight-win-back-chinese-buyers-amid-fallout-over-fake-goods?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China has announced the expansion of the resource base for a major lithium deposit in the southwestern province of Sichuan by about 70 per cent, strengthening the country’s potential long-term supply for the metal – an essential component in the production of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage. After recent detection efforts, the Jiada Lithium Mine has registered about 1.05 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in the deposit, bringing its total resources to 2.53... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369603/chinese-lithium-mine-registers-wider-vein-bolstering-beijings-battery-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369603/chinese-lithium-mine-registers-wider-vein-bolstering-beijings-battery-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 07:00:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen During a recent reporting trip to the economic backwater of Nanning, the capital of southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the Pinglu Canal and US tech titan Apple’s latest product launch were on nearly everyone’s lips. The canal, which was officially opened on September 16, was built to make Guangxi a maritime logistics gateway for landlocked provinces in southwestern China and a nexus for trade with Southeast Asia. But many Nanning residents are not sure they will feel any... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369604/reporters-notebook-can-canal-connection-give-lift-economic-backwater?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369604/reporters-notebook-can-canal-connection-give-lift-economic-backwater?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The race to loosen China’s grip on tungsten is moving to Kazakhstan, where United States-backed mining projects are attempting to compete in an industry where Chinese investment already has an operating foothold. Global tungsten prices have surged more than 200 per cent since May 2025, according to commodity and energy information provider Argus Media, adding urgency to efforts to develop alternative supplies. The soaring costs followed Beijing’s export controls on selected tungsten products... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369599/china-has-dominated-tungsten-decades-can-us-cash-central-asia-loosen-its-grip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3369599/china-has-dominated-tungsten-decades-can-us-cash-central-asia-loosen-its-grip?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 01:00:14 +0000